Suncor Energy tests use of radio waves instead of water at oil sands – Mining.com

July 14, 2015

Suncor Energy (TSX, NYSE:SU), Canada’s largest oil and gas producer, is looking to replace high-pressure steam used to extract bitumen from oil sands with radio waves and so increase current environmental and energy efficiencies.

The technology, developed by U.S. defense contractor Harris Corporation, could help the oil sand industry reduce costs, greenhouse gas emissions and water usage, the company said in a statement.

The method, Enhanced Solvent Extraction Incorporating Electromagnetic Heating (ESEIEH, pronounced “easy”), consists on heating bitumen with radio frequency energy coming from a surface generator, will be tested for two years at Suncor’s Dover oil sands project in northern Alberta.

Read More: http://www.mining.com/suncor-energy-tests-use-of-radio-waves-instead-of-water-at-oil-sands/